Search - Pentangle :: Time Has Come 1967-1973

A Great Wee Folk-Jazz Band

T. Stout | Seattle, WA USA | 06/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's time that a good, multi-disc compilation came out on Pentangle. The band brought together great musicians [Bert Jansch, John Renborn, Danny Thompson, Jacqui McPhee, Terry Cox} to create something much greater than the sum of the parts. The excellent rhythm section of Thompson and Cox providing a foundation for the virtuosity of Renborn and Jansch to take us into heavenly places, whilst Jacqui's pure vocals are breath taking. The first four years of the band produced some of the best Brit-folk music of all time. I could listen to this music ever day of my life and never tire of it. Buy it and enjoy it."

The time has come - finally

Skyburial | N-1400 Ski, Ski Norway | 07/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The time has indeed come to appreciate Pentangle as one of the most exciting and unique musical adventures in popular music. Having listened in my youth to their first LP on a small Philips Bambino record player, it is a revelation to hear the first cd on this finely packaged and masterly remastered 4-cd set open with the guitar figure on Mirage from the first cd in crisp, crystal clear remastered sound: each instrument comes into its own, showing how Pentangle as few others managed to let each voice be distinct and clear, yet merging into a seamless whole. The virtuosity of each musician shines through from the first moment and through the whole four-disk set.



A lot has been written about intuitive dazzling interplay of Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, creating a guitar sound that has never been replicated before or since, sounding as exciting and inventive today as ever. The muscular, distinctive voice of Danny Thompson is heard more clearly.

In this remastered version, it is perhaps the multilayered percussion of Terry Cox that is revealed most clearly. The rhythm section is marked by its jazz background, always creating fresh approaches, never losing the beat and drive. In the lost years of Pentangle in the 80s one critic remarked Pentangle to be "dry and academic sounding". He could barely have heard the music on this 4-cd record: The music sounds cutting-edge 2007; the interplay of the musicians finding new inroads to traditional material, and the record contains much new material, all of consistent quality.



Perhaps the greatest treat and the true revelation is the whole cd 3 devoted to a concert in Royal Festival Hall in 1969. This record reveals the level of musicianship Pentangle had reached. Where many groups are studio-products and have difficulties replicating their sounds in concert, Pentangle reveal that the studio hid their strengths rather than reveal them. In concert every note is played just as crisp and clear, but with more force and dynamics than in the studio. Danny Thompson's double bass playing is amazing throughout (name one double bass player in the whole of popular music that is his equal), but the real revelation on the live record is Jacqui McShee's capacities as a vocalist. She becomes the voice of all suffering women, strong and serious in Bruton town and Let no man steal your thyme, without the coy features of many female singers. She can also belt it out as a blues singer in Way behind the sun in a manner that is much more potent than on the studio recordings. The live record shows one of the best bands ever at their peak. The only group they can be compared to may be the John Coltrane Quartet in their prime, but exhibiting even more variety in their musical expressions than JCQ. Many hidden gems are strewn out on the record, for instance an elongated alternate take on the classic "Reflection", more jazzy, freer and more intensive than on record. An instrumental version of the accompaniment to Jack Orion is also unforgettable.



The time has come to appreciate Pentangle as one of the most unique and durable contributions to popular music. The legendary DJ John Peal ended his liner notes to Pentangle`s first album with "play this record to those you love". I can only agree.



"

Great Finds on This Collection!!!

J. Polak | Baltimore, MD United States | 11/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a must own for any Pentangle fan because of disk 4 which features live material that never appeared on LP. It is fantastic!!! Amazing!!!



As an all around collection it has some minor problems. Several songs get repeated performances while other tracks that I feel were great were not included. Reflections is on the 2nd and 4th CD. Sweet Child and Waltz appear twice and we get songs Like Faro Annie and Yarrow from Renborn and Janch's solo albums. I would have rather had songs like "When I Was in My Prime", "The Cherry Tree Carol", "Lyke Wake Dirge", "A Maid Thats Deep In Love" and many other great tunes that were left out.



This is a great collection with a nice history of the group. Disk 1 and 4 are the best!!!"